1 I’ve sent back my firearms licences, chiz chiz. I no longer feel Ramboesque. However, I have yet to decide whether to sell them all, it rather depends on the valuation on one of them. I find that I can be bought – or my Purdey can, at a price.
2 Dave has finished mending the wall at the bottom of the drive, knocked over some years ago by an oil tanker – that’s a motor vehicle, not a ship. He’s also mended the low wall by the lawn.
3 Wince, my gardener, has cut back the shrubbery to the extent that I don’t really have a shrubbery any longer. That wasn’t quite what I had in mind, but it’ll all grow back if I want it to. I’m pretty relaxed about it.
4 Graham came to pick up my car for its pre-winter service this morning and brought it back this afternoon. There is no charge. I cried at the kindness. Too sentimental for words, I am.
5 I know that I didn’t buy one of the lots sold last night, because I know who did. It was the most expensive, but also the one I liked most. But no matter. It’s a few hundred pounds saved.
Purdey has a ring to it, fine products. Tradition like Mauser, Mannlicher etc., the first generations, before in these companies (usually) the state became involved and they produced military equipment. I think I remember the incident with the oiler.
The Purdey will sell in a specialst auction house. A mate of mine sold one for £30,000 A couple of years ago!
If you have all the paperwork, go on to their website, they will give you a valuation. xxx
It’s quite distinctive because my grandfather was right-handed, left-eyed, so it has a crossover stock, curved to his requirements. It’d cost a fortune to have one custom made, so if someone wanted it they’d pay a lot – or rather, if two people wanted it they’d vie for it. I have emailed them, I’ll see what’s said. But I might keep it anyway, I haven’t decided.
Zoe. ref Purdey. Suggest you get in touch with David Williams of Bonham’s; or Thomas Delmar, of Sotheby’s, and tell them I recommended them. Can give you the necessary ‘phone numbers if you give me a ring.
Regards, Mike.
Thank you, Mike – when I feel a bit less uncertain about what to do, I’ll be in touch. Though we’ll see each other in the next couple of weeks anyway, won’t we!